LIVE OVER EUROPE 2007

Well I must admit being sceptical when this was released. Were the band just in it for the money? Why are the three amigos always so cryptic when getting interviewed? Why so vague about the future? All these questions probably answered most honestly by Phil Collins. Was it going to be another replica of the Wembley Invisible Touch tour released in 2001? You can see the dilemma. Overall the songs chosen for this reunion tour were a surprise in that more older material chosen. But the biggest surprise was the quality of the whole bands playing, excellent delivery. But even more surprising is Phil Collin's vocals. They are accurate to the originals, restrained and wonderfully fragile. There is attention to detail all over his vocals whereas in the past he would on occassion mimic verses to vary the sounds ( and perhaps improvise a bit from the boredom of touring)Listen to the epic In The Cage and Afterglow. These are fine examples where this is apparent. Stuermer and Thompson combine perfectly as usual with Rutherford, Banks and Collins.

So thankfully this reunion tour has produced a great live album. Hold on My Heart, The Carpet Crawlers and Duke Intro aka Behind The Lines are more great tracks. The albums still has those irritating Dumbed down medleys of Dukes Travels, Cinema Show etc but the main point being the detail these guys put into this performance, demonstrates what professional they still are. A solid three and a half stars!